Acts 16:13-15 "From the Runway to The Way"

Two children ordered their mother to stay in bed one Mother's Day morning. As she lay there
looking forward to breakfast in bed, the smell of bacon wafted up from the kitchen.
But after a good long wait she finally went downstairs to investigate. She found them both sitting
at the table eating bacon and eggs.
"It's a surprise for Mother's Day," one explained, "we decided to cook our own breakfast."
Happy Mothers' Day! We take you for granted and fail to sufficiently appreciate you, so let
me say thank you for the many things you do. You are special people. God has built so many
wonderful thinks into your DNA, such as the ability to speak volumes just by giving "THE
LOOK" and having invisible eyes in the back of your head and that uncanny ability to sense that
mischief is afoot and the kids are up to no good. Your nurture and love and persistent prayers
are powerful tools to shape and mold your children. We are indebted to your spirituality.
As we turn to the Scriptures this morning, we find that Paul and his missionary team have
reached the shores of Europe. Upon their arrival, they encounter a mother who would not only
make a difference in her family, but in the advancement of the Gospel. Her name was Lydia,
and she was a businesswoman in the textile industry. Her wares found their way to the runways
for her day. Since purple was the color worn by royalty, we can surmise that her clientele were
powerful and wealthy people. While the Bible notes her business savvy, it is her interest in
spiritual matters that makes her noteworthy. From the example of Lydia, we want to consider 3
characteristics of a godly mother as she went from the Runway to The Way.

IDENTITY-
Lydia is defined by two things: her career and her sabbath activities
Lydia was a successful businesswoman from Thyatira, a city renowned for its purple dye.
Though she was a business woman, she regularly took time off to seek God and recharge.
Looking for people who already had an interest in spiritual things, the missionary team went to a
place by the river in Philippi where people customarily met to pray on the Sabbath day.
Lydia was among those who met for prayer.
She was one who had a habit of going by the river to pray with others
She didn't know Christ as her Savior, but she understood that there was something missing
She seemed to have everything, but she was seeking what only God could provide
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
She was discerning. While many seek fulfillment in a variety of ways, she turned to God
Mom, there are many demands and expectations placed upon you
There isn't enough time to do everything, and you don't get enough help
You are overscheduled, overworked, and overloaded.
You may feel that you are too busy to make it to church regularly
Don't fall for that. Because you are so busy, you need what only God can give
You risk losing yourself, losing your identity if you don't make time for God
There are a lot of Martha's who miss what Mary found
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Recognize that you can't do everything alone but need God's assistance
You've got to make time to get away from the demands and distractions and find balance.
Priorities are a must. Some of the most important things in life are missed if we don't
She was seeking God and she made time to hear what God had to say
The Bible uses words here that indicate that she heard and paid close attention to Paul
She came to salvation and found a new identity as a child of God
She went from selling to kings to becoming a child of the king
God brought her 250 miles from Thyatira to Greece to hear the Gospel and be saved.
How could your life be characterized? What are your priorities?

INFLUENCE-
She acted on what God revealed to her and committed herself to the Lord
She attended to the message that God provided and took it seriously
After she came to salvation, we find her following up with baptism
But she is not alone in this. Her household was also saved and baptized
She influenced her family to follow the Lord which tells us that she had credibility with them
Other members of her family came to know Christ because she lead the way.
When we see the word household, it likely extends beyond her family
This word often includes servants and people connected to her family
The people who knew Lydia best could clearly see the impact Jesus had on her
Her testimony was genuine and her faith was real, so it bore fruit in others
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Because they respected her, they followed her example
Philippi was one of the strongest churches in the New Testament.
And her home was the epicenter of the work of God
But Lydia's influence doesn't end with her own family and community
Revelation 2 addresses the church in Thyatira, which was Lydia's hometown.
Paul never went there, yet there is a church there.
In all likelihood, that work was the result of Lydia's faithfulness and influence
In fact, she does not hesitate to speak of her faithfulness to Paul and his team
Not in the sense of boasting or bragging but she asks them if they consider her faithful
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same
commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
What do the members of your household witness in your life?
Are they seeing a genuine faith? Can you truly say that you are faithful to God?

INVESTMENT-
Lydia has received a transforming gift from God but she wants to give back
She exercised the spiritual gift of hospitality
She convinces Paul and his team to move in to her house and stay
She isn't afraid that having preachers around will cramp her style
There are at least 4 people: Paul, Silas, Luke and Timothy
She isn't inviting them for coffee, she is asking them to make her house their headquarters
In this way, she can be assured that she and her family can learn more about God
She is investing all that she has in the work of God
She is surrendering everything over to the advancement of Christ's kingdom
And she really didn't give them much choice. She was very persuasive about it
We notice in v. 40 that Paul is still operating out of her home
The world says, be stingy if you want more, but God says give in order to receive
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he
which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye
mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
What are you sowing into God's work?
She was partnering with these men and becoming a co-laborer with God
Here is someone not content to be a spectator, unwilling to sit on the sidelines
She's not waiting for someone else to volunteer. There is something she can do and she does it

Conclusion: Lydia had no way of knowing that day how her life and her family's life was going
to be changed. She didn't know that she was going to have a part in changing not one
community, but two. God answered her prayers and gave her a new life, and she dared to take
what God was offering. Are you ready for that kind of change that only God can make? Are
you ready to surrender yourself to Him? Maybe you are seeking, but haven't been saved. Now
is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Have you committed yourself to the Lord?
Have you taken action and followed the Lord in baptism? church membership?